The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) on Tuesday announced to seal the hotels in Puri which are yet to deposit penalties for violating pollution norms.
Sources said a list of defaulters is now being prepared by the OSPCB and the sealing of the hotels is likely to start from January end or first week of February 2018.
Earlier, as per National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, OSPCB had issued notices to nearly 300 hotels in Puri and the State capital for flouting pollution norms and lacking ‘consent to establish and consent to operate certificates.’
As per norms, hoteliers are required to obtain consent to establish and consent to operate certificates from the OSPCB under the Water Prevention and Control Act, 1974 before setting up hotels in the State.
The NGT had directed the OSPCB to take action against hoteliers who failed to obtain the certificates by August 6, 2015.
So far, a penalty of nearly Rs 2 crore has been received from 178 hotels while show-cause notices have been served to defaulters, said OSPCB sources.
Meanwhile, the Puri Hotel Owners’ Association alleged that the OSPCB is threatening to seal their hotels even though they have consent certificate to operate.